Adolescent Mental Health Initiative – serie

If Your Adolescent Has an Eating Disorder is an authoritative guide to understanding and helping a teenager with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, or other eating disorders. It is designed for parents of teens who have recently been diagnosed with an eating disorder, or who are at risk of developing one, and for other adults, such as teachers and guidance counselors, who are regularly in contact with at-risk adolescents. The book combines the latest science--including the newest treatments and most up-to-date research findings on eating disorders--with the practical wisdom of parents who have been in the trenches raising teens with eating disorders.Written in a clear and approachable style, Drs. B. Timothy Walsh and Deborah R. Glasofer explain exactly what eating disorders are and describe their characteristics, as well as signs and symptoms. They outline the right way to go about getting help if you suspect your child may have a problem, about when and where to get treatment, and about how to navigate the healthcare system. There is also advice on how to handle everyday life--both at home and at school--once your child is diagnosed, and on how to communicate with your teen and her or his siblings about issues related to the eating disorder. Complete with red flags to look out for, warnings on the dangers of doing nothing, and a comprehensive list of additional resources, this book will help parents and other adults face and deal effectively with adolescent eating disorders before they become life-threatening.

Adolescents (ages 12-20) with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at risk for academic problems, strained relationships, peer rejection and unsafe behavior - and parents are often at a loss for how to handle these challenges. If Your Adolescent Has ADHD: An Essential Resource for Parents provides the up-to-date information and down-to-earth support that parents need. It offers an in-depth look at causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and parenting strategies.Contrary to what was once believed, ADHD that starts earlier in childhood usually persists into the teen years. Yet even experienced parents are often caught unawares by the fresh challenges that adolescence brings. This book is one of the few to address ADHD in the context of teen friendships, dating, curfews and sports and extracurricular activities. It also offers practical advice from a leading psychologist on determining readiness to drive and instilling good homework and study habits.This book is a readable, reliable guide to evidence-based treatments for ADHD including behavioral therapy, medications, and educational interventions. Some approaches, such as school-based mentoring, have been little discussed in other parenting books. The authors also offer effective behavioral strategies that can be used at home, including communication and negotiation, problem solving, rewards, strategic punishments and behavioral contracts; and advice for older adolescents on dealing with college, work, and moving away from home.

Adolescents (ages 12-20) with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at risk for academic problems, strained relationships, peer rejection and unsafe behavior - and parents are often at a loss for how to handle these challenges. If Your Adolescent Has ADHD: An Essential Resource for Parents provides the up-to-date information and down-to-earth support that parents need. It offers an in-depth look at causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and parenting strategies.Contrary to what was once believed, ADHD that starts earlier in childhood usually persists into the teen years. Yet even experienced parents are often caught unawares by the fresh challenges that adolescence brings. This book is one of the few to address ADHD in the context of teen friendships, dating, curfews and sports and extracurricular activities. It also offers practical advice from a leading psychologist on determining readiness to drive and instilling good homework and study habits.This book is a readable, reliable guide to evidence-based treatments for ADHD including behavioral therapy, medications, and educational interventions. Some approaches, such as school-based mentoring, have been little discussed in other parenting books. The authors also offer effective behavioral strategies that can be used at home, including communication and negotiation, problem solving, rewards, strategic punishments and behavioral contracts; and advice for older adolescents on dealing with college, work, and moving away from home.

An in-depth look at prevalent anxiety disorders in adolescents, this book is designed for parents of teens who have recently been diagnosed with or who are at risk for developing such a disorder. It is also for other adults, such as teachers and guidance counsellors, who are regularly in contact with at-risk adolescents. The book combines scientific expertise - including information about available treatments and up-to-date research findings on anxiety disorders-with the practical wisdom of parents who have raised teenagers with these illnesses.In clear and accessible language, Dr Edna B. Foa and Linda Wasmer Andrews explain in detail each of the four major anxiety disorders (social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder). The book includes tips on how to go about getting a diagnosis, what a diagnosis means, when and where to get treatment, and how to navigate the health care system. There is also advice on how to handle everyday life - both at home and at school - once the teen is diagnosed. Pointers on red flags to look out for and about the dangers of doing nothing are included as well to help parents and other adults deal effectively with adolescent anxiety disorders before they become debilitating.

An in-depth look at prevalent anxiety disorders in adolescents, this book is designed for parents of teens who have recently been diagnosed with or who are at risk for developing such a disorder. It is also for other adults, such as teachers and guidance counsellors, who are regularly in contact with at-risk adolescents. The book combines scientific expertise - including information about available treatments and up-to-date research findings on anxiety disorders-with the practical wisdom of parents who have raised teenagers with these illnesses.In clear and accessible language, Dr Edna B. Foa and Linda Wasmer Andrews explain in detail each of the four major anxiety disorders (social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder). The book includes tips on how to go about getting a diagnosis, what a diagnosis means, when and where to get treatment, and how to navigate the health care system. There is also advice on how to handle everyday life - both at home and at school - once the teen is diagnosed. Pointers on red flags to look out for and about the dangers of doing nothing are included as well to help parents and other adults deal effectively with adolescent anxiety disorders before they become debilitating.

An in-depth look at life with an adolescent recently diagnosed with schizophrenia, this book is designed for parents of teens who have recently been diagnosed with or who are at risk of developing such a disorder. It is also for other adults, such as teachers, athletic coaches and guidance counsellors, who are regularly in contact with at-risk adolescents. The book combines scientific expertise - including information about available treatments and up-to-date research findings on schizophrenia - with the practical wisdom of parents who have raised teenagers with this illness.In clear and accessible language, Dr Raquel E. Gur and Ann Braden Johnson explain in detail what is known about the origins, symptoms, and potential treatments of schizophrenia. The book includes tips on how to go about getting a diagnosis, what a diagnosis means, when and where to get treatment, and how to navigate the healthcare system. There will also be advice on how to handle everyday life - both at home and at school - once the teen is diagnosed. Pointers on red flags to look out for and about the dangers of doing nothing are included as well to help parents and other adults deal effectively with adolescent schizophrenia, so that their children can enjoy the fullest and most productive life possible.

An in-depth look at life with an adolescent with schizophrenia, this book is designed for parents of teens who have recently been diagnosed with or who are at risk of developing such a disorder. It is also for other adults, such as teachers, athletic coaches and guidance counsellors, who are regularly in contact with at-risk adolescents. The book combines scientific expertise - including information about available treatments and up-to-date research findings on schizophrenia - with the practical wisdom of parents who have raised teenagers with this illness.In clear and accessible language, Dr. Raquel E. Gur and Ann Braden Johnson explain in detail what is known about the origins, symptoms and potential treatments of schizophrenia. The book includes tips on how to go about getting a diagnosis, what a diagnosis means, when and where to get treatment, and how to navigate the healthcare system. There will also be advice on how to handle everyday life - both at home and at school - once the teen is diagnosed. Pointers on red flags to look out for and about the dangers of doing nothing are included as well to help parents and other adults deal effectively with adolescent schizophrenia, so that their children can enjoy the fullest and most productive life possible.

Recent advances in our understanding of the human brain suggest that adolescence is a unique period of development during which both environmental and genetic influences can leave a lasting impression. To advance the goal of integrating brain and prevention science, two areas of research which do not usually communicate with one another, the Annenberg Public Policy Center's Adolescent Risk Communication Institute held a conference with the purpose of producing an integrated volume on this interdisciplinary area. Presenters/chapter contributors were asked to address two questions: What neurodevelopmental processes in children and adolescents could be altered so that mental disorders might be prevented? And what interventions or life experiences might be able to introduce such changes? The book has a 5-part structure: biological and social universals in development; characteristics of brain and behaviour in development; effects of early maltreatment and stress on brain development; effects of stress and other environmental influences during adolescence on brain development; and reversible orders of brain development. The twenty chapters include contributions from some of the most well-known researchers in the area.

New to the Adolescent Mental Health Initiative series are books written specifically for teens and adolescents. Each book addresses some of the major mental health issues facing young people today: depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders. They will be written for and by young people who have struggled with and conquered these illnesses themselves. Supplementing this first-person narrative with the scholarship and expertise of leading psychiatrists and psychologists, the authors will provide such essential information as how to go about getting a diagnosis, what the latest treatment options are, and how to cope with mental illness at home and at school. Using this unique combination of personal narrative and cutting-edge research, these books are designed to help teens and young adults deal effectively with these illnesses and to empower them and their families to act immediately and wisely at getting the best available treatment possible.The life of a person with bipolar disorder can be tumultuous. The world is made up of many moods: one is fast-paced, frantic, energetic - you are at the top of your game and feeling invincible. Another is so bleak and dark that basic tasks are nearly impossible - your body no longer abeys simple commands and your interest in the world around you dissolves. Now imagine a third mood: the sudden and volatile mixed state in which both the highs and lows occur simultaneously.Many of those diagnosed with this disorder are adolescents: young people who often feel isolated, afraid, and unsure of who to talk to or where to turn for help and answers. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 15, Patrick Jamieson knows firsthand the highs and lows and bring his experiences to bear in Mind Race, the first in the Annenberg Mental Health Initiative series written specifically for teenagers and young adults. This is a first-person account, aimed at teens who have recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, combining Jamieson's personal experience with practical advice for young people. Incorporating the medical expertise of psychiatrist Moira Rynn, the author discusses his own challenges and triumphs and offers guidance on issues such as psychiatric hospitalisation, living with mood-stabilising medications, and "what doctors know" about bipolar disorder. In authoritative yet accessible language, he presents the latest in scientific research on the disorder, treatment options, and how to deal with the disorder at home and at school. Included is a detailed FAQ for the recently diagnosed.With Mind Race, Jamieson offers hope to teens and young adults living with bipolar disorder, helping them to navigate and overcome their challenges so they can lead a full and rewarding life.

More than simple cases of dieting gone awry, eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are among the most fatal of mental illnesses, responsible for more deaths each year than any other psychiatric disorder. These illnesses afflict millions of young people, especially women, all over the world. Carrie Arnold developed anorexia as an adolescent and nearly lost her life to the disease. In Next to Nothing, she tells the story of her descent into anorexia, how and why she fell victim to this mysterious illness, and how she was able to seek help and recover after years of therapy and hard work. Now an adult, Arnold uses her own experiences to offer practical advice and guidance to young adults who have recently been diagnosed with an eating disorder, or who are at risk for developing one. Drawing on the expertise of B. Timothy Walsh, M.D., one of America's leading authorities on eating disorders, she reveals in easy-to-understand terms what is known and not known medically about anorexia and bulimia. The book covers such difficult topics as how to make sense of a diagnosis, the various psychotherapies available to those struggling with an eating disorder, psychiatric hospitalization, and how to talk about these illnesses to family and friends. The result is both a compelling memoir and a practical guide that will help to ease the isolation that an eating disorder can impose, showing young people how to manage and maintain their recovery on a daily basis. Part of the Adolescent Mental Health Initiative series of books written specifically for teens and young adults, Next to Nothing will also be a valuable resource to the friends and family of those with eating disorders. It offers much-needed hope to young people, helping them to overcome these illnesses and lead productive and healthy lives.

During his second semester at college, Kurt Snyder became convinced that he was about to discover a fabulously important mathematical principle, spending hours lost in daydreams about numbers and symbols. In time, his thoughts took a darker turn, and he became preoccupied with the idea that cars were following him, or that strangers wanted to harm him. Kurt's mind had been hijacked by schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder that typically strikes during the late teen or young adult years. In Me, Myself, and Them, Kurt, now an adult, looks back from the vantage point of recovery and eloquently describes the debilitating changes in thoughts and perceptions that took hold of his life during his teens and twenties. As a memoir, this book is remarkable for its unvarnished look at the slow and difficult process of coming back from severe mental illness. Yet Kurt's memoir is only half the story. With the help of psychiatrist Raquel E. Gur, M.D., Ph.D., and veteran science writer Linda Wasmer Andrews, Kurt paints the big picture for others affected by adolescent schizophrenia. Drawing on the latest scientific and medical evidence, he explains how to recognize warning signs, where to find help, and what treatments have proved effective. Kurt also offers practical advice on topics of particular interest to young people, such as suggestions on managing the illness at home, school, and work, and in relationships with family and friends.Part of the Adolescent Mental Health Initiative series of books written specifically for teens and young adults, My, Myself, and Them offers hope to young people who are struggling with schizophrenia, helping them to understand and manage the challenges of this illness and go on to lead healthy lives.

We've all felt occasional pangs of shyness and self-consciousness, but for those suffering with social anxiety disorder, the fear of being scrutinized and criticized can reach disabling proportions. Such was the case for Emily Ford, who shares her firsthand experiences in these pages. Emily's true story of fear, struggle, and ultimate triumph is sure to resonate with other socially anxious teenagers and young adults. Emily's frank, often witty, sometimes poignant account of how she negotiated all the obstacles of social anxiety--and eventually overcame them with the help of therapy and hard work--makes for compelling reading. Yet this book is more than just a memoir. Emily's story is coupled with the latest medical and scientific information about the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and self-management of social anxiety disorder (or SAD). Readers will find a wealth of solid advice and genuine inspiration here. In engaging, accessible language--and with the help of psychiatrist Michael Liebowitz--she discusses what is known and not known about social anxiety disorder in adolescents. She outlines the various psychotherapies available for those with SAD and explains how to seek professional help, how to talk to family and friends about the illness, and how to handle difficult social situations. The result is both an absorbing story and a useful guide that will help to ease the isolation caused by SAD, encouraging young people to believe that, with commitment and hard work, they can overcome this illness.Part of the Adolescent Mental Health Initiative series of books written specifically for teens and young adults, What You Must Think of Me will also be a valuable resource for friends and family of those with SAD. It offers much-needed hope to young people, helping them to overcome this illness and lead healthy, productive lives.

We've all felt occasional pangs of shyness and self-consciousness, but for those suffering from social anxiety disorder, the fear of being scrutinized and criticized can reach disabling proportions. Such was the case for Emily Ford, who shares her firsthand experiences in this volume. Emily's true story of fear, struggle, and ultimate triumph is sure to resonate with other socially anxious teenagers and young adults. Emily's frank, often witty, sometimes poignant account of how she negotiated all the obstacles of social anxiety--and eventually overcame them with the help of therapy and hard work--makes for compelling reading. Yet this book is more than just a memoir. Emily's story is coupled with the latest medical and scientific information about the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and self-management of social anxiety disorder (or SAD). Readers will find a wealth of solid advice and genuine inspiration here. In engaging, accessible language--and with the help of psychiatrist Michael Liebowitz--she discusses what is known and not known about social anxiety disorder in adolescents. She outlines the various psychotherapies available for those with SAD and explains how to seek professional help, how to talk to family and friends about the illness, and how to handle difficult social situations. The result is both an absorbing story and a useful guide that will help to ease the isolation caused by SAD, encouraging young people to believe that, with commitment and hard work, they can overcome this illness.Part of the Adolescent Mental Health Initiative series of books written specifically for teens and young adults, What You Must Think of Me will also be a valuable resource for friends and family of those with SAD. It offers much-needed hope to young people, helping them to overcome this illness and lead healthy, productive lives.

In this book for young people who are struggling with substance abuse, Kyle Keegan recounts his own remarkable story of drug abuse and ruthless addiction. Keegan, now an adult who is in recovery from his addiction, discusses his experience as a well adjusted adolescent who fell victim to heroin and whose life was almost destroyed by the devastating drug. Against the backdrop of these experiences, he also provides useful information that young people struggling with substance abuse need, such as how to recognize and accept that there is a problem, how to find professional help, and how to stay happy and healthy in recovery.

In this book for young people who are struggling with substance abuse, Kyle Keegan recounts his own remarkable story of drug abuse and ruthless addiction. Keegan, now an adult who is in recovery from his addiction, discusses his experience as a well adjusted adolescent who fell victim to heroin and whose life was almost destroyed by the devastating drug. Against the backdrop of these experiences, he also provides useful information that young people struggling with substance abuse need, such as how to recognize and accept that there is a problem, how to find professional help, and how to stay happy and healthy in recovery.

In this book for young people who have been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Jared Kant discusses his own experiences with the illness, and the disruption and distress that it brought to his life as an adolescent. Combining this personal story with a candid and easy-to-understand description of the science behind OCD, Kant (now an adult who healthily and successfully manages his illness) also provides the facts that young people diagnosed with OCD need, such as how to find professional help, what types of therapies are available for this disorder, and how to deal with stressful situations at home and at school.

This is a book for adolescents who have contemplated suicide, or who may be at risk for doing so. As a teenager, author DeQuincy Lezine was one of the many young people each year who attempt suicide. Instead, he sought psychiatric help and went on to found the first ever campus-based chapter of the Suicide Prevention Action Network USA. In Eight Stories Up, Lezine discusses his own struggles with suicidal thoughts and provides valuable information that young people need, such as how to find professional help, what types of problems and illnesses may lead to suicidal behaviours, available therapies, and how to cope at home and at school.

The authoritative guide to understanding and helping an autistic teenager. While adolescence can be a tough time for parents and their teens, autistic teenagers may face specific challenges and need targeted support from the adults in their lives. The road ahead can be difficult for parents and caregivers, too, especially because the teenage years can involve surprising changes in their child and in society's expectations of them. This concise, readable book offers the latest in evidence-based information about what happens when autism and adolescence intersect. The book covers the teen years, addressing middle school and high school, along with the transition period from high school into adulthood and, where relevant, college and employment. Among other topics, the book addresses autism and co-occurring medical and mental health conditions, social connections, puberty and hygiene, and sexuality. If Your Adolescent Has Autism will give parents and caregivers of autistic preadolescents and adolescents what they need: information and guidance presented with compassion and understanding, with an emphasis on both the strengths and the disability related to autism and their unique manifestations during this transitional period of life.

The authoritative guide to understanding and helping an autistic teenager.While adolescence can be a tough time for parents and their teens, autistic teenagers may face specific challenges and need targeted support from the adults in their lives. The road ahead can be difficult for parents and caregivers, too, especially because the teenage years can involve surprising changes in their child and in society's expectations of them.This concise, readable book offers the latest in evidence-based information about what happens when autism and adolescence intersect. The book covers the teen years, addressing middle school and high school, along with the transition period from high school into adulthood and, where relevant, college and employment. Among other topics, the book addresses autism and co-occurring medical and mental health conditions, social connections, puberty and hygiene, and sexuality.If Your Adolescent Has Autism will give parents and caregivers of autistic preadolescents and adolescents what they need: information and guidance presented with compassion and understanding, with an emphasis on both the strengths and the disability related to autism and their unique manifestations during this transitional period of life.

The authoritative guide to understanding and helping a teenager with bipolar disorder.While coping with teenage moodiness can be difficult under any circumstances, it can be especially challenging if a teenager has a serious mood disorder. This concise, readable book is the definitive guide to understanding and getting effective help for adolescents with bipolar disorder, designed for parents and other adults in contact with afflicted teens. It combines the most current scientific expertise available today--including the newest treatments and medications and the latest research findings on bipolar disorder--with no-nonsense, hands-on advice from parents who have faced this mood disorder in their own children.Among other topics, the book addresses the roots of bipolar disorder, red flags to look out for, treatment options for young people, and practical strategies for helping a teen cope at home and at school. It concludes on a hopeful note, by reviewing the latest scientific evidence on treating this mood disorder. A growing body of research now shows that early diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder may reduce the severity of the disease, both now and in the future. Including chapters on sex, drugs, and social media, and life after high school, this book will provide the information and tools parents need to help adolescents achieve the best possible outcome.

The authoritative guide to understanding and helping a teenager with bipolar disorder.While coping with teenage moodiness can be difficult under any circumstances, it can be especially challenging if a teenager has a serious mood disorder. This concise, readable book is the definitive guide to understanding and getting effective help for adolescents with bipolar disorder, designed for parents and other adults in contact with afflicted teens. It combines the most current scientific expertise available today--including the newest treatments and medications and the latest research findings on bipolar disorder--with no-nonsense, hands-on advice from parents who have faced this mood disorder in their own children.Among other topics, the book addresses the roots of bipolar disorder, red flags to look out for, treatment options for young people, and practical strategies for helping a teen cope at home and at school. It concludes on a hopeful note, by reviewing the latest scientific evidence on treating this mood disorder. A growing body of research now shows that early diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder may reduce the severity of the disease, both now and in the future. Including chapters on sex, drugs, and social media, and life after high school, this book will provide the information and tools parents need to help adolescents achieve the best possible outcome.

The authoritative guide to understanding and helping a teenager with depression.While coping with teenage moodiness can be difficult under any circumstances, it can be especially challenging if a teenager has a serious mood disorder. This concise, readable book is the definitive guide to understanding and getting effective help for adolescents with depression, designed for parents and other adults in contact with afflicted teens. It combines the most current scientific expertise available today--including the newest treatments and medications and the latest research findings on depression--with no-nonsense, hands-on advice from parents who have faced this mood disorder in their own children.Among other topics, the book addresses the roots of depression, red flags to look out for, treatment options for young people, and practical strategies for helping a teen cope at home and at school. It concludes on a hopeful note, by reviewing the latest scientific evidence on treating depression. A growing body of research now shows that early diagnosis and treatment of depression may reduce the severity of the disease, both now and in the future. Including chapters on sex, drugs, and social media, and life after high school, this book will provide the information and tools parents need to help adolescents achieve the best possible outcome.

The authoritative guide to understanding and helping a teenager with depression.While coping with teenage moodiness can be difficult under any circumstances, it can be especially challenging if a teenager has a serious mood disorder. This concise, readable book is the definitive guide to understanding and getting effective help for adolescents with depression, designed for parents and other adults in contact with afflicted teens. It combines the most current scientific expertise available today--including the newest treatments and medications and the latest research findings on depression--with no-nonsense, hands-on advice from parents who have faced this mood disorder in their own children.Among other topics, the book addresses the roots of depression, red flags to look out for, treatment options for young people, and practical strategies for helping a teen cope at home and at school. It concludes on a hopeful note, by reviewing the latest scientific evidence on treating depression. A growing body of research now shows that early diagnosis and treatment of depression may reduce the severity of the disease, both now and in the future. Including chapters on sex, drugs, and social media, and life after high school, this book will provide the information and tools parents need to help adolescents achieve the best possible outcome.